Wreck-indicating buoy.



E. WILLIAMS.

WRECK INDICATING BUOY.

APPLICATION mm SEPT- 12. 1914.

Patented June 20, 1916.

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ELLIOTT WILLIAMS, 0F MEADVILLE, MISSOURI.

WRECK-INDICATING- BUSY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2d, 19.11 5.

Application filed September 12 1914. Serial No. 861,446.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLIOTT VILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Meadville, in the county of Linn and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and Improved VVreck-Indicating Buoy; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

The principal object of the invention is: to afford means whereby a sub-marine or a sinking vessel is enabled to leave upon the surface of the water means for indicating its location, and for the purpose of extending assistance, if necessary.

The invention consists in the apparatus and means for accomplishing the purposes set forth, which will be first fully described, and then specifically pointed out in the claims.

The drawing shows the invention applied to an ordinary sea-going vessel, the position of the vessel beneath the surface of the water and the life raft being shown in dotted lines.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The invention embodies the means whereby the indication of a submerged ship of any character may be established, and particularly derelicts, which float at sea. A reel 55 is secured to the deck 56,, of the vesrel, by standards 57, and as seen adjacent the side of the ship. Upon this Windlass which is free to rotate, is wound an ordinary cable 58, the inner end of which cable is made fast to the Windlass. The indicator in this instance consists of a life raft, composed of a circular non-sinkable mattress 59, of considerable size. The mattress is provided with a circular cover 60., hinged at (31 to the mattress or casing 59. This cover is composed of Wood or other suitable material. Upon the inner surface of the cover is a bulls eye lamp 62, of the ordinary description, attached fixedly to the cover. A post or rod 63 is connected rigidly with the top 60, adjacent the point of the hinged connection of the cover, which post normally extends in a horizontal direction, a loop (at being formed in the outer end of the rod or post, with which. loop is Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the connected the outer free end of the cable 58. A grasping device, comprising a ring or hoop 65, larger in circumference than said mattress extends concentrically to the outer surface of the mattress, and is held firmly thereto by braces 66, connected with said ring and with the mattress.

The mattress is supported by the davits 67, on the side of the vessel, by means of the ring 65, which engages with the hook 68, on the davit, the position of the mattress being such that the bulls eye lamp extends outwardly therefrom, the normal position of the mattress being on the davit, as shown. Upon the submerging of the vessel from any cause, the mattress is removed from the davit, and remains on the surface of the water, the draft on the post 63 tending to raise the cover 60, and expose the lamp to view.

The mattress affords means for saving life, and at all times remains upon the sur face of the water, the cable unwinding as the vessel descends into the position seen in dotted lines in the figure.

Such modifications of the invention may be employed as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a vessel and with a buoy support thereon, of a buoy com posed of a mattress, a reel on the vessel and a cable wound on said reel and adapted to be unwound upon the sinking of the vessol, a hinged cover upon the mattress and a post connected with the cover adjacent its hinged end portion with which post the free end of the cable is connected.

2. The combination with a vessel and with a buoy support thereon, of a buoy composed of a mattress, a reel upon the vessel and a cable wound upon said reel, a cover to the mattress hinged at one end thereto, a lamp upon the inner surface of the cover, and a post fixedly connected with the outer surface of the cover adjacent its hinged end portion, with which post the free end of said cable is connected.

ELLIOTT WILLIAMS.

W i tnesscs M. A. Ronnn'rson, FRANK J. LIBERSHAL.

Commissioner of Patents,

' Waahilnon, D. G. 

